U.S. patent application number 09/145222 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-29 for display apparatus.
Invention is credited to ISHIBASHI, KENJI, ISHIKAWA, TAKATOSHI, KOBAYASHI, YASUSHI, NAGATA, HIDEKI, OHZAWA, SOH, SATO, AKIRU, TANIJIRI, YASUSHI.
Application Number | 20010045919 09/145222 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 17042216 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010045919 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ISHIKAWA, TAKATOSHI ; et
al. |
November 29, 2001 |
DISPLAY APPARATUS
Abstract
A display apparatus has a picture displaying portion and a
temperature providing portion. The temperature providing portion
generates heat. The picture displaying portion displays a picture
based on a video signal generated by a picture information
generating portion.
Inventors: |
ISHIKAWA, TAKATOSHI; (OSAKA,
JP) ; ISHIBASHI, KENJI; (OSAKA, JP) ;
KOBAYASHI, YASUSHI; (OSAKA, JP) ; SATO, AKIRU;
(OSAKA, JP) ; TANIJIRI, YASUSHI; (OSAKA, JP)
; OHZAWA, SOH; (OSAKA, JP) ; NAGATA, HIDEKI;
(OSAKA, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURNS DOANE SWECKER & MATHIS L L P
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
17042216 |
Appl. No.: |
09/145222 |
Filed: |
September 1, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/74 20130101; A63F
13/08 20130101; A63F 2300/8082 20130101; G06F 3/011 20130101; A63F
2300/302 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/8 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 1997 |
JP |
H9-239266 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display apparatus comprising: picture displaying means for
providing a viewer with a picture; and heat generating means for
providing the viewer with heat.
2. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat
generating means provides the viewer with a heat in accordance with
the picture.
3. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said heat
generating means provides the viewer with a heat in accordance with
a brightness of the picture.
4. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat
generating means changes, in accordance with the picture, a portion
where the viewer is provided with heat.
5. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the picture
that said picture displaying means provides the viewer with is a
virtual picture.
6. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: a
sensor for detecting a pressure; means for detecting with said
sensor that the viewer grabs an object within the virtual picture;
and means for providing the viewer with a heat in accordance with
the object grabbed by the viewer.
7. A display apparatus comprising: picture displaying means for
providing a viewer with a picture; sound outputting means for
providing the viewer with sound; and heat generating means for
providing the viewer with heat.
8. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the picture
that said picture displaying means provides the viewer with is a
virtual picture.
9. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said heat
generating means provides a heat in accordance with the
picture.
10. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said heat
generating means provides the viewer with a heat in accordance with
a brightness of the picture.
11. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said heat
generating means provides a heat in accordance with the sound.
12. A display apparatus comprising: means for outputting a video
signal; means for displaying a picture based on the video signal;
and means for generating heat based on the video signal.
13. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 12, the picture that
said picture displaying means provides the viewer with is a virtual
picture.
14. A method of providing heat, comprising the steps of: displaying
an image; and providing a viewer with a heat in accordance with the
displayed image.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said image is a
virtual image.
Description
[0001] This application is based on application No. H9-239266 filed
in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a display apparatus. The
display apparatus includes a virtual reality apparatus such as a
head mounted display (HMD), a relaxation system and a simulator for
providing the viewer with a virtual reality space.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Conventional display apparatuses are designed to provide the
viewer with a virtual reality space by use mainly of visual effects
produced by providing pictures. For these apparatuses, means for
enhancing psychological effects such as presence and reality have
been groped for.
[0006] FIGS. 1 to 4 are brief block diagrams of conventional
display apparatuses.
First Conventional Example
[0007] In a display apparatus of FIG. 1, video signals generated in
two-dimensional (2-D) video signal generating portion 100 are
supplied to picture displaying portion (e.g. a cathode-ray tube
(CRT)) 101 in which 2-D pictures are displayed. The viewer can
experience a virtual reality space by viewing the pictures
displayed on the picture displaying portion 101. Televisions are a
typical example of the display apparatus of FIG. 1.
Second Conventional Example
[0008] In a display apparatus of FIG. 2, video signals generated in
three-dimensional (3-D) video signal generating portion 102 are
supplied to picture displaying portion (e.g. an HMD) 103 in which
3-D pictures are displayed. When the picture displaying portion 103
is an HMD, the viewer can experience a virtual reality space by
viewing the pictures displayed on the display of the HMD that the
viewer wears on his or her head.
Third Conventional Example
[0009] In a display apparatus of FIG. 3, virtual reality (VR) space
generating portion 104 generates 3-D picture information, and inner
force sense information for providing the viewer with a sense of
action and reaction in accordance with the movement of the viewer's
hand or arm. The generated 3-D picture information is supplied to
the picture displaying portion 103 in which 3-D pictures are
displayed. The inner force sense information is supplied to inner
force sense providing portion 105. The inner force sense providing
portion 105, for example, provides the viewer's hand or arm with a
force based on the supplied inner force sense information.
Fourth Conventional Example
[0010] In a display apparatus of FIG. 4, the position and direction
of the viewer's head is detected by a head track sensor 106. The
detection result is supplied to the VR space generating portion
104. In the VR space generating portion 104, picture information is
generated by the 3-D picture generating portion 102.
[0011] Then, the detection result of the head track sensor 106 is
added to the picture information outputted from the 3-D picture
generating portion 102. The resultant video signal is supplied to
the picture displaying portion 103. In this apparatus, the picture
viewed by the viewer is successively changed to the picture in the
direction of the viewer's line of sight. By viewing the pictures
thus provided, the viewer can experience a virtual reality
space.
[0012] In the above-described display apparatuses, picture
information sometimes includes sound information. For example, a
display apparatus is disclosed that is designed to enhance presence
with stereo sound provided in accordance with the picture.
[0013] A special conventional example is a motorbike simulator in
which a picture in accordance with the speed is provided and by
sending wind from the front by use of a fan or a compressor and
changing the pressure of the wind, psychological effects in the
driver's (viewer's) virtual reality space experience are
enhanced.
[0014] In display apparatuses using visual effects, since the
picture brightness of current common display devices (liquid
crystal displays (LCDs) and CRTs) is approximately 150 cd/m.sup.2,
glaring pictures including sunlight or flames and pictures that
make the viewer feel hotness cannot be displayed, so that reality
is deteriorated. Visually providing pictures with a wide range of
brightness can be achieved by forming pictures directly on the
retinas through two-dimensional scanning of a laser beam.
[0015] However, even if natural pictures (resolution, retinal image
size, parallax information, brightness, contrast, etc.) can be
displayed, light rays outside the visible region cannot be
reproduced. In a real space, natural light includes infrared rays
and ultraviolet rays that are outside the visible region. In a real
space, one feels, for example, different senses of brightness such
as intense sunlight and weak sunlight through the skin due to the
action of infrared rays (in the case of intense sunlight, one even
feels a pain according to the intensity), and in front of a
fireplace, one feels heat radiation through the skin.
[0016] By reproducing with a display apparatus the action of
infrared rays felt through the skin, presence is further enhanced.
Reproduction of the action of infrared rays is, specifically, to
provide the viewer with a sense of temperature. Provision of a
sense of temperature not only reproduces the action of infrared
rays but largely influences human psychology. For example, when a
sense of terror or astonishment is provided or when a picture
providing these senses is displayed, psychological effects are
enhanced by providing coldness or hotness for a moment. However,
for prior art display apparatuses, there is no technology of
enhancing presence by providing a sense of temperature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a display
apparatus providing the viewer with a virtual reality space with
higher presence and reality.
[0018] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a display apparatus
according to the present invention comprises: picture displaying
means for providing a viewer with a picture; and heat generating
means for providing the viewer with heat.
[0019] According to this structure, a sense of temperature such as
coldness and warmth can be provided to the viewer by the heat
generating means. Since men always feel temperature in a real
space, psychological effects produced by providing the viewer with
a sense of temperature are great. For example, one feels hot in
summer and cold in winter. One feels cold when having a shaved ice.
In the above-described structure, since these senses can be
provided to the viewer, a virtual reality space with higher
presence can be provided.
[0020] A display apparatus according to the present invention
comprises: means for outputting a video signal; means for
displaying a picture based on the video signal; and means for
generating heat based on the video signal.
[0021] According to this structure, pictures and temperature are
provided as information on a virtual reality space. Consequently,
for example, by providing a sense of temperature to the face in
accordance with the picture, a space that produces complex
psychological effects including both the sense of sight and the
sense of temperature can be provided to the viewer, so that a
virtual reality space with higher presence and reality can be
provided. When a picture of the sun is displayed, a sense of
temperature which makes the viewer to feel hot is provided to the
face.
[0022] A display apparatus according to the present invention
comprises: picture displaying means for providing a viewer with a
picture; sound outputting means for providing the viewer with
sound; and heat generating means for providing the viewer with
heat.
[0023] According to this structure, sound, temperature and pictures
are provided as information on a virtual reality space. When a
sound producing a sense of terror or sad music is provided by the
sound outputting means, a sense of coldness is provided to the
viewer by the heat generating means and when Latin music or
cheerful rock music is provided, a sense of warmth is provided,
thereby enhancing psychological effects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] This and other objects and features of this invention will
become clear from the following description, taken in conjunction
with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanied
drawings in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
the display apparatus of the first conventional example;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
the display apparatus of the second conventional example;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
the display apparatus of the third conventional example;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
the display apparatus of the fourth conventional example;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a viewer experiencing a
virtual reality space by a display apparatus of a first embodiment,
and a basic structure of the apparatus;
[0030] FIG. 6 is an external view of an HMD of the first
embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 7 shows a concrete structure of temperature providing
means;
[0032] FIG. 8 shows an example of a picture displayed on the
HMD;
[0033] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing picture information
generating portion and portions associated therewith;
[0034] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing inner force sense
information generating portion and portions associated
therewith;
[0035] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing sound information
generating portion and portions associated therewith;
[0036] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
the display apparatus of the first embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
a display apparatus of a second embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
a display apparatus of a third embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
a display apparatus of a fourth embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 16 shows a viewer wearing a display apparatus of a
fifth embodiment; and
[0041] FIG. 17 shows the viewer wearing the display apparatus of
the fifth embodiment viewed from above.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] First Embodiment
[0043] FIG. 5 shows a viewer 2 experiencing a virtual reality space
by a display apparatus of this embodiment, and schematically shows
a basic structure of this apparatus. Reference numeral 1 represents
an HMD having picture displaying portion 1a and sound providing
portion 1b. That is, the HMD 1 serves as picture and sound
providing portion. The picture displaying portion 1a serves also as
temperature providing portions 6c. The sound providing portion 1b
comprises a headphone and serves also as temperature providing
portions 6d. The HMD 1 also includes a head track sensor (not
shown) for detecting the position of the head.
[0044] Reference numeral 7 represents inner force sense providing
portion for providing fingers and hands of the viewer 2 with a
reactional force when the viewer 2 grabs an object in the VR space
with his or her hand. Reference numeral 8 represents an inner force
sense sensor for detecting the movement of the hands of the viewer
2. The inner force sense sensor 8 serves also as temperature
providing portion 6b for providing the hands of the viewer 2 with a
sense of temperature.
[0045] The temperature providing portion 6b may be structured so as
to be in contact with the back of a hand like in this embodiment,
or may have any structure as long as it is in contact with a
finger, an arm or a palm or that is disposed in the vicinity of a
hand or an arm. The picture and sound providing portion 1, the
inner force sense providing portion 7 and the temperature providing
portions 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d constitute VR space providing means.
Information provided by the VR space providing means allows the
viewer 2 to experience a VR space.
[0046] Reference numeral 4 represents VR space generating portion
for generating information provided by the VR space providing
means. The VR space generating portion 4 comprises a workstation.
The VR space generating means 4 is not limited to a workstation but
may comprise two or more workstations or a personal computer. The
configuration of the VR space generating portion 4 will be
described later.
[0047] Reference numeral 5 represents a chair in which the viewer 2
sits when experiencing a virtual reality space with this apparatus.
The chair 5 includes the temperature providing portions 6a through
which the viewer 2 sitting in the chair 5 is provided with a sense
of temperature. The temperature providing portions 6a , 6b, 6c and
6d comprise heating wire heaters or black-light lamps for providing
warmth or hotness, and Peltier elements for providing coldness.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a more detailed external view of the HMD 1. The
HMD 1 is designed so that when the viewer puts head holding members
1c on his or her ears, pupils (eyepieces) 1a' of the picture
displaying portion 1a are situated in positions substantially
corresponding to the positions of the viewer's eyes, and that the
headphone 1b serving as sound providing portion is situated in the
vicinity of the viewer's ears. Reference numeral 1d is a head track
sensor for detecting the position of the viewer's head. The
temperature providing means 6c are provided on the surface of the
picture displaying portion 1a that is opposed to the viewer's eyes.
The temperature providing portions 6d are provided on the portions
of the headphone 1b that come in contact with the ears.
[0049] FIG. 7 shows a concrete structure of the temperature
providing portions 6c. The temperature providing portions 6c are
provided on the left and right sides of and between the eyepieces
1a'. Reference symbols 6cL and 6cR represent the enlarged views of
the temperature providing portions on the left and right sides. The
temperature providing portions 6cL and 6cR on the left and right
sides are divided into three areas ("a", "b", "c" and "a", "b",
"c", respectively). Assume that the viewer views a picture as shown
in FIG. 8. In this picture, the sun with high brightness is
displayed in the upper left of the display screen and the shade of
the mountains is displayed in the lower right. While the viewer
receives sunlight with the entire face, the hotness received from
the upper left is more intense.
[0050] To reproduce such a sense of temperature in a real space as
precisely as possible, in the temperature providing portion 6cL of
this embodiment, the highest temperature is provided in the area
"a", and the provided temperature decreases in the order of "b" and
"c". In the temperature providing portion 6cR, the lowest
temperature is provided in the area "c". This control is performed
by the VR space generating portion 4. Hereinafter, a detailed
configuration of the VR space generating means 4 will be
described.
[0051] The VR space generating means 4 of this embodiment includes
picture information generating portion, inner force sense
information generating portion and sound information generating
portion. The VR space generating portion 4 also includes processing
portions and controlling portions associated with the
above-mentioned three portions. The signal processing flow will be
described with reference to block diagrams showing the generating
portions and the portions associated therewith.
[0052] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the picture information
generating portion 9 and the associated portions included in the VR
space generating portion 4. In the picture information generating
portion 9, for example, information on 3-D pictures such as 3-D
computer graphics is generated and stored. To the 3-D picture
information, the head position detection result from the head track
sensor 1d is added, and the resultant picture information supplied
to the picture displaying portion 1a is reproduced and transmitted
to processing portion 10.
[0053] The processing portion 10 calculates the distribution of the
picture plane brightness of the transmitted picture information and
generates temperature provision data based on the distribution
signal. For example, the generation of temperature provision data
such that since the above-mentioned portion of the sun in the upper
left of FIG. 8 is high in brightness, the temperature provided in
the area "a" of the temperature providing portion 6cL is high is
performed by the processing portion 10. Controlling portion 11
outputs a control signal based on the temperature provision data to
the temperature providing portions 6c, and outputs a synchronizing
signal so that the timing of output of the control signal coincides
with the timing of transmission of the picture information to the
picture displaying portion 1a.
[0054] The processing portion 10 not only obtains the picture plane
brightness distribution based on the picture information as
described above but also acquires information, for example, on the
season of the picture projected on the display screen from the
picture information. Then, based on the season information, for
example, temperature provision data is generated such that when the
season is summer, a warm temperature is provided overall. The
controlling portion 11 of this embodiment controls the temperature
providing portions 6a in the chair 5 based on the temperature
provision data. That is, the chair 5 becomes warm when a picture of
summer is projected, and becomes cold when a picture of winter is
projected, whereby the viewer can experience a virtual reality
space with higher presence.
[0055] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the inner force sense
information generating portion 14 and the associated portions
included in the VR space generating portion 4. The inner force
sense information generating portion 14 generates inner force sense
information based on information from the inner force sense sensor
8. For example, when the viewer grabs an object in a VR space, the
inner force sense sensor 8 detects this, and based on the detection
result, the inner force sense information generating portion 14
generates inner force sense information representative of provision
of a reactional force to a finger or a hand. The inner force sense
information is transmitted to the inner force sense providing
portion 7, so that the viewer is actually provided with a
reactional force.
[0056] Processing portion 15 generates temperature provision data
based on the inner force sense information. For example, when the
object in the VR space grabbed by the viewer is determined to be
hot based on the inner force sense information, temperature
provision data representing provision of a high temperature is
provided. Controlling portion 16 generates a control signal based
on the temperature provision data and outputs it into the
temperature providing portions 6b. The controlling portion 16
outputs a synchronizing signal so that the timing of transmission
of the inner force sense information to the inner force sense
providing portion 7 coincides with the timing of transmission of
the control signal to the temperature providing portions 6b.
[0057] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the sound information
generating portion 17 and the associated portions included in the
VR space generating portion 4. The sound information generating
portion 17 generates sound information. The sound information is
supplied to the sound outputting portion 1b which outputs the sound
information as sound.
[0058] Processing portion 18 generates temperature provision data
based on the sound information. For example, when sad music or a
sound producing a sense of terror is provided, temperature
provision data representing provision of a sense of coldness is
generated. When Latin music or cheerful rock music is provided,
temperature provision data representing provision of a sense of
warmth is generated. Controlling portion 19 generates a drive
signal based on the temperature provision data and outputs it to
the temperature providing portions 6a and 6d. The controlling
portion 19 generates and outputs a synchronizing signal so that the
temperature change of the temperature providing portions 6a and 6b
corresponds to the sound information outputted to the sound
outputting portion 1b.
[0059] It should be understood that the present invention is
achieved even when the temperature providing portions controlled by
the controlling portions shown in the block diagrams of FIGS. 9 to
11 are not as shown in the figures. For example, the control of the
temperature providing portions based on the sound information may
also be performed on the temperature providing portions 6c.
Moreover it is not necessary that the temperature provision data is
generated based on the picture information and the sound
information. Here, the temperature provision data may also be
generated without the information of the picture and the sound.
Then the sense of temperature is provided for the viewer based on
the temperature provision data.
[0060] FIG. 12 briefly shows the means shown in FIGS. 9 to 11
together. That is, FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic
structure of the display apparatus of this embodiment. In this
apparatus, at the arrow 50, information from the inner force sense
sensor 8 is added to the inner force sense information generated by
the inner force sense information generating portion 14, and the
resultant inner force sense information is supplied to the inner
force sense providing portion 7. The temperature providing portions
6b are controlled based on the inner force sense information.
[0061] At the arrow 51, information from the head track sensor 1d
is added to the picture information and the sound information
generated by the picture generating portion 9 and the sound
generating portion 17, and the resultant picture information and
sound information are supplied to the picture and sound providing
portion 1. The temperature providing portions 6a, 6c and 6d are
controlled based on the picture information and the sound
information. Thus, the VR space information generating portion 4
which also generates information on temperature serves also as
temperature information generating means.
[0062] Second Embodiment
[0063] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
a display apparatus of a second embodiment. This apparatus is
designed so that VR space information generated by the picture and
the sound information generating portions 9 and 17 is outputted to
the HMD 1. The temperature providing portions 6a, 6c and 6d are
controlled based on the VR space information. This apparatus will
not be described in detail because it is different from the
apparatus of the first embodiment only in that the portions
associated with the inner force sense providing portion 7 and the
head track sensor 1d are not provided.
[0064] Third Embodiment
[0065] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
a display apparatus of a third embodiment. This apparatus has the
same structure as the second embodiment except that the head track
sensor 1d is provided. Information is generated by the picture and
the sound information generating portions 9 and 17. At the arrow
52, information from the head track sensor 1d is added to the
information outputted from the picture and the sound information
generating portions 9 and 17, and the resultant information is
supplied to the picture and sound providing portion 1. The
temperature providing portions 6a, 6c and 6d are controlled based
on VR space information. Other arrangements are the same as those
of the second embodiment.
[0066] Fourth Embodiment
[0067] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
a display apparatus of a fourth embodiment. This apparatus
comprises the picture, the sound and the inner force sense
information generating portions 9, 14 and 17 and the inner force
sense providing portion 7. Information generated by the information
generating portion 9, 14 and 17 is also supplied to the inner force
sense providing portion 7. Other arrangements are the same as those
of the third embodiment.
[0068] Fifth Embodiment
[0069] The principle of a display apparatus of this embodiment will
be described with reference to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 shows the viewer 2
wearing the apparatus 28 of this embodiment and viewing a picture
displayed on displaying portion. Reference numeral 20 represents
the frame of the picture viewed by the viewer 2. Reference numeral
62 represents angle of view of the picture. The apparatus 28 is
designed to provide the viewer 2 with a sense of temperature based
on the radiant heats from virtual objects existing in a VR space
(in a space not limited to the field of view).
[0070] VR space information prepared includes information on the
colors, the brightnesses, the distances, the directions and the
radiant heats of virtual objects existing 360 degrees around the
viewer. Assuming that virtual objects 60A, 60B and 60C exist in the
VR space, these objects are shown in FIG. 16.
[0071] The virtual object 60A exists at an angle .theta..sub.A from
the direction of the viewer's head F and at a distance L.sub.A in
the VR space, and has a radiant heat 61A. For the other virtual
objects 60B and 60C, information on the distance L.sub.B and
L.sub.C, the direction .theta..sub.B and .theta..sub.C and the
radiant heat 61B and 61C are also prepared. In 5the apparatus 28,
the temperature that the viewer is provided with is controlled
based on the information. Hereinafter, a temperature providing
method of the apparatus 28 based on the radiant heats from virtual
objects will be described.
[0072] FIG. 17 schematically shows the viewer wearing the apparatus
of this embodiment and the virtual objects in the VR space viewed
from above. In FIG. 17, it is assumed that the viewer is situated
in the same position in the VR space as in FIG. 16. The apparatus
is held on the viewer's head 63 by head holding portion 23, and is
fixed so that picture displaying portion 24 of the apparatus is
situated in front of the eyes. Reference numerals 21 and 22
represent temperature providing portions included in the
apparatus.
[0073] Reference numeral 20 represents the frame of the picture
viewed by the viewer 2. The area and intensity of temperature
provision depend on conditions calculated based on the radiant heat
and the distance. The amount of heat radiating from a heat source
typically decreases inversely with the square of the distance from
the heat source. Therefore, in this embodiment, the temperature to
be provided is calculated based on data concerning the distance and
the radiant heat from a virtual object. The temperature provision
area is controlled in consideration of the direction in which the
virtual object exists. In this case, whether the virtual object
exists in the field of view or not is not taken into
consideration.
[0074] By the above-described control, the sense of temperature
based on the radiant heat 61A from the virtual object 60A is
provided in an area 25 of the temperature providing portion 21.
Likewise, the sense of temperature based on the radiant heat 61C
from the virtual object 60C is provided in an area 26 of the
temperature providing portion 22. For the virtual object 60B,
temperature provision is not performed because the distance L.sub.B
therefrom is long and the radiant heat 61B therefrom is not
high.
[0075] By such control, temperature provision based on the radiant
heat from an object not existing in the viewer's field of view is
also performed, so that natural temperature provision is performed
in accordance with the distance from the object. When the head
moves, the movement is detected by a non-illustrated heat track
sensor and the temperature to be provided is detected with
consideration also given to the detection result.
[0076] Preferably, when the distance from and the direction of a
virtual object varies because the viewer 2 moves in a VR space,
temperature provision data is calculated as occasion requires so
that an optimum temperature is provided in an optimum temperature
provision area. The above-described temperature provision is
effective, particularly, for 3-D picture information and CG images
having distance information.
[0077] While the temperature providing portions are included in the
display apparatus in the above-described first to fifth
embodiments, the temperature providing portions are not limited
thereto. For example, an air conditioner may be used as the
temperature providing portion (apparatus). In this case,
temperature is provided in the entire space.
[0078] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically
described.
* * * * *